By now you've probably read the article that's circulating social media demonizing my favorite childhood candy that I may or may not have eaten for breakfast on occasion... the reese's cup. The famous chocolate duo seems innocent enough, but one look at the ingredients and you'll wonder where polyglycerol pilyricinoleate {PGPR} and tertiary butylhydroquinone {TBHQ} fit into the chocolate and peanut butter equation. Well, technically they don't. Or at least, shouldn't. Take a look at what Hershey's is hiding behind that cheerful orange packaging... if you dare.

The unappetizing side of Reese's. What's hiding in that innocent orange packaging of your favorite childhood candy? Photo courtesy of Eye Hungry

DAIRY. Dairy is a touchy subject. But, if you think about it, milk is meant for a baby calf who has a specialized stomach made of 4 compartments to digest the stuff. Still, the dairy in the ingredients above is not organic meaning growth hormones, antibiotics and chemical toxins from the cow’s food is circulating throughout the milk. Tasty.

LACTOSE. A naturally occurring sugar in milk but it’s added as an extra ingredient here. Also, lactose is hard for the body to digest. Humans typically begin losing the enzyme lactase to break down the milk sugar as they get older. Arguing that nature knows best and maybe we shouldn’t be drinking milk anymore as we age. Food for thought.

SOY LECITHIN. All soy that is not organic is GMO (genetically modified). “If it came from a plant, eat it; if it was made in a plant, don’t.” ~ Michael Pollen.

PGPR: Used to replace the expensive cacao butter, Hershey slips this yellow goopy stuff made from castor beans in its place to keep costs low and profits high.

EMULSIFIER: Just another filler ingredient that makes the chocolate thinner like soy lecithin.

DEXTROSE: Used to enhance mouth feel and satisfaction, dextrose is a type of sugar that is fructose-free and generally comes from corn, another gmo crop.

TBHQ: Tertiary Butylhydroquinone. Just rolls off the tongue conjuring images of your grandma baking confectionary delights from scratch in her humble kitchen. Only, not really. This is a chemical preservative that comes from petroleum and is a form of butane... you know, butane lighters that you light your candles with. Yum. Oh, and it has caused liver enlargement, convulsions and paralysis in rats and vision disturbances in humans {evidence}.

Ok, so now you know and once you know better you do better, right? So do better by making these 3 ingredient better-than-a-reese's Nutbutter Date Cups for you and your kiddos. And make sure you tell your friends! This secret's too good to keep to yourself because these things taste AMAZE-BALLS {<---- haha, I crack myself up. Do people even still say this?}

Better than a Reese's and only 3 ingredients. And nontoxic. But completely delicious. Like really. Guilt free and vegan and happy dance inducing too :)